Holders for rolls of sheet material



Oct. 29, 1968 J. ADDISON 3,407,980

HOLDERS FOR ROLLS OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct. 51, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1968 J. ADDISON 3,407,980,

HOLDERS FOR ROLLS 0F SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct. 31, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR firrzes a Jddz's'om aA M, M 512% 1W ATTORNEY This invention relates to holders for rolls of sheet material, for; example paper, metal foil, orthin synthetic plastics sheeting. The invention is particularly though not exclusively applicable to domesticpurposes, for example as a holder fora roll oftoilet paper.

Known holders for toilet paper rolls usually comprise a removable horizontal bar detachably connected at its ends to a pair of supporting arms projecting from a base which is secured to a wall. Spring means are included to hold the supporting arms in engagement with the bar and in some cases the bar itself is telescopically collapsible. Such holders suffer from a number of disadvantages: the roll of paper is usually freely rotatable on the bar and in use, particularly by children, excessive quantities of paper become unwound. Also the operation of removing the finished roll and substituting a new roll is in many cases somewhat complex. Some such designs of roll holders are also expensive. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved roll holder which will overcome some or all of the disadvantages of prior holders.

Broadly the invention consists in a roll holder comprising a base, carrying a post having one free end to enter the hollow interior of the roll, and a part which cooperates with the post to exert a frictional grip on the roll, and spring means acting between the post and the said part.

Preferably said part is attached to or integral with the base, and the post is resiliently movable towards and away from the part.

In one form of the invention the post is mounted for sliding movement relative to the base, in a direction transverse to the axis of the post. Alternatively the post may be pivotally connected to the base and the invention also contemplates a construction in which the post is formed integral with the base, the integral connection being of a resilient material which itself provides the spring action.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the said part is formed with a concavity to receive and engage the external surface of the roll. Furthermore the holder may include a tearing edge attached to the base, and extending parallel to the length of the post, to assist in tearing sections of paper off the roll. The holder will normally also include means for attaching the base to a supporting structure, with the axis of the post substantially vertical.

In some cases the post may be rotatable about its vertical axis but this is not an essential requirement since the roll itself can normally rotate on the post. In a possible modification of the invention the post may be formed in two opposed sections, and separated by springs, so that the two sections exert a frictional drag on the internal surface of the hollow roll.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with certain modifications thereof will now be described by way of example, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toilet roll holder according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the roll holder of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional front elevation on the line IIIIII in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line IV-IV in FIGURE 2, and

3,407,980 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional front elevation corresponding to FIGURE 3 showing a modified form of post.

- As illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4 the toilet roll holder comprises'a base 10 having holes 11 to receive fastening screws by which the base can be attached to a wall. Alternatively the fastening elements may be positioned to allow the holder to be positioned vertically on a horizontal surface. At its lower edge the base is formed with an integral horizontally projecting platform 12 formed with a central slot 13 perpendicular to the rear surface of the base member 10. The upstanding part of the base is provided with a semi-cylindrical concave recess 14 and one or both of the vertical edges 15, 16 of this recess are serrated or toothed to provide a tearing lip.

On the platform 12 is mounted a post 20 of circular cross-section having a circular flange 21 adjacent its lower end,-to rest on the upper surface of the platform 12. Below the flange 21 the post is cut away at two opposite sides to provide a thin elongated strip of material 22 which is a sliding fit within the slot 13 within the platform. The lower end of the post has an enlarged head 23 which engages the underside of the platform 12. The post is thus capable of sliding on the platform 12 in the direction of the slot 13. As illustrated in FIGURE 4 a tension spring 25 is connected to the lower part of the post and extends through a bore 26 in the base 10 to an anchorage at the back of the base (not shown). The post is thus urged lightly towards the recess 14.

To place a new roll of toilet paper in the holder it is only necessary to pull the post slightly away from the base against the force of the spring 25 and then to drop the new roll over the post. On releasing the post the spring causes the external surface of the paper roll to engage lightly against the surface of the cylindrical recess 14. If the free end of the paper on the roll is drawn off, the roll will not rotate freely so that excessive quantities of paper become unwound and the paper unwound from the roll can be torn off easily against one of the tearing edges 15, 16. The holder described is particularly suitable for manufacture in ceramics or synthetic plastics material, though it may also be produced if required in metal or wood. It presents a simple external surface which is attractive in appearance and easy to clean.

In a possible modification illustrated in FIGURE 5 the circular flange 21 adjacent the lower end of the post is omitted and the post is merely provided with two slots on opposite sides to form the neck of material 22 engaging the slot 13 in the platform 12. In both these embodiments the post is not intended to rotate about its axis. If rotation is required the upper part of the post is conveniently attached by a vertical pivotal connection to a lower sliding part which preferably takes theform of the parts 21, 22, 23 in FIG. 3.

It will be appreciated that instead of a horizontal sliding connection between the post and the base a pivotal connection may be substituted with a simple resilient device urging the post pivotally towards the base.

It will be noted that the upper end of the post is entirely free which greatly facilitates the removal and replacement of a paper roll. In some cases however it may be desired to include an upper part attached to the base and overlying the top of the post, but preferably this part will be of limited horizontal dimension so that it will not interfere with the ability to remove and replace a roll with one hand.

Although the embodiments described are primarily designed for use with the axis of the post vertical it will be understood that the holder can also be used if required with the post axis inclined to the vertical, or even horizontal, though in the latter case there may be some risk of the roll falling off the post.

I claim:

1. A roll holder for supporting a hollow roll, comprising a base, a post mounted on the base and having one free end to enter the hollow interior of the roll, a part which cooperates with the post to exert a frictional grip on the roll, and spring means acting between the post and the said part.

2. A roll holder as claimed in claim 1, in which the said part is attached to or integral with the base, and the post is resiliently movable towards and away irorn the part. I

3. A roll holder as claimed in claim 2, in which the post is mounted for sliding movement relative to the base, in a direction transverse to the axis of the post.

4. A roll holder as claimed in claim 1, in which the said part is formed with a concavity to receive and engage the external surface of the roll.

5. A roll holder as claimed in claim 1, including means for attaching the base to a supporting structure, with the axis of the post substantially vertical.

6. A roll holder as claimed in claim 1, including a tearing edge attached to the base, and extending parallel to the length of the post, to assist in tearing sections of paper off the roll.

7. A roll holder for supporting a hollow roll of thin sheetmaterial, comprising a base having means for attachment to a vertical wall, a concave surface to receive part of the external surface of the roll, and a tearing lip, a post mounted on the base, and having a free end to enter the hollow interior of the roll, and resilient means acting between the said post and the base to urge the post towards the concave surface'ofthe base and to exert a light frictional grip on the roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,305 10/ 1888 Ehrlich 22576 632,736 9/ 1899 Munsey 24255.2

JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROLL HOLDER FOR SUPPORTING A HOLLOW ROLL, COMPRISING A BASE, A POST MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND HAVING ONE FREE END TO ENTER THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF THE ROLL, A PART WHICH COOPERATES WITH THE POST TO EXERT A FRICTIONAL GRIP 